Upon completion of this project, I am reminded just how amazing educators are; our influence is far-reaching and we are so very influential on our students' tender minds and eager hearts. Teaching is, nor has it ever been, a job where one can simply show up, throw some information at a student, and go home at the end of the day. Teachers are emotionally invested in our students, and we want nothing more than for our tenure with them to be influential so they can move on to the next phase of their education prepared and full of excited anticipation (at least, this was what I always wanted!).
The iPad is such a glorious device; it truly is. It has the power to unleash untapped potential in children who are bored and complacent. It has the capacity to help teachers truly reach children who are learning disabled in life-altering, never-before seen ways. The iPad and its programs can revolutionize the future of education by reducing textbook costs, which can open the door for every school across the country - even schools in the poorest areas - to present a 1:1 computing initiative to each and every student. However, the iPad is not without flaws. It is not a light saber. It is not some magical device from the world of Harry Potter. It relies on the teacher to truly tap its amazing potential. And as with the introduction of anything new, having such a wonderful device to wield has the potential to be overwhelming and frightening. I truly believe that as long as teachers remember that we are, each of us, soldiers fighting on the same field of battle, everything is possible. I do not mean to compare the classroom to the battlefield, but sometimes, a very real war wages in our schools on a daily basis. How do we best reach our students? How do we keep them from falling through the cracks and disappearing altogether? The answer is very simple, but so difficult to put into practice: teamwork. From the 30-year-old veteran to the fresh-out-of-college first-year teacher, we all have something to learn from each other. We are only as strong as the educational team that surrounds us every day. Educators need to remember that they are not alone. We need to spend more time building each other up and less time criticizing each other.
With professional development and/or education on how to use the iPad; effective teamwork allowing true support of every member of the faculty; a heartfelt desire to work with the iPad; a heartfelt desire to improve the educational experience of the students in your classroom; successful classroom management; and the desire to utilize the device to the fullest of its capability, success with the iPad is inevitable. Moreover, I would argue that it is guaranteed.
I leave you with Jim Valvano's famous speed from the 1993 ESPY awards, presented by ESPN. It is a classic, and I used to show it to my students every year. I show it here because (a) the message is profound, and (b) because it always inspires me - each and every time I watch it - to make the most out of not only my life, but of every situation. Educating students is a profession that will forever have my respect. It is the most difficult job in the world, and also the most rewarding. Jim is right; time is precious. Too precious, perhaps. I do not want my students to ever, ever, ever, ever give up.
I can only hope that when I return to the classroom environment I am impacting, influential, and successful enough to inspire my students to want more, do more, and achieve more. Every single day I step foot into that classroom, I want to command the respect and attention of my students. I want them to learn, grow, and mature. I want them to be happy, healthy, and imaginative. I want them to leave me better than when they found me.
Implications
Upon completion of this project, I am reminded just how amazing educators are; our influence is far-reaching and we are so very influential on our students' tender minds and eager hearts. Teaching is, nor has it ever been, a job where one can simply show up, throw some information at a student, and go home at the end of the day. Teachers are emotionally invested in our students, and we want nothing more than for our tenure with them to be influential so they can move on to the next phase of their education prepared and full of excited anticipation (at least, this was what I always wanted!).
The iPad is such a glorious device; it truly is. It has the power to unleash untapped potential in children who are bored and complacent. It has the capacity to help teachers truly reach children who are learning disabled in life-altering, never-before seen ways. The iPad and its programs can revolutionize the future of education by reducing textbook costs, which can open the door for every school across the country - even schools in the poorest areas - to present a 1:1 computing initiative to each and every student. However, the iPad is not without flaws. It is not a light saber. It is not some magical device from the world of Harry Potter. It relies on the teacher to truly tap its amazing potential. And as with the introduction of anything new, having such a wonderful device to wield has the potential to be overwhelming and frightening. I truly believe that as long as teachers remember that we are, each of us, soldiers fighting on the same field of battle, everything is possible. I do not mean to compare the classroom to the battlefield, but sometimes, a very real war wages in our schools on a daily basis. How do we best reach our students? How do we keep them from falling through the cracks and disappearing altogether? The answer is very simple, but so difficult to put into practice: teamwork. From the 30-year-old veteran to the fresh-out-of-college first-year teacher, we all have something to learn from each other. We are only as strong as the educational team that surrounds us every day. Educators need to remember that they are not alone. We need to spend more time building each other up and less time criticizing each other.
With professional development and/or education on how to use the iPad; effective teamwork allowing true support of every member of the faculty; a heartfelt desire to work with the iPad; a heartfelt desire to improve the educational experience of the students in your classroom; successful classroom management; and the desire to utilize the device to the fullest of its capability, success with the iPad is inevitable. Moreover, I would argue that it is guaranteed.
I leave you with Jim Valvano's famous speed from the 1993 ESPY awards, presented by ESPN. It is a classic, and I used to show it to my students every year. I show it here because (a) the message is profound, and (b) because it always inspires me - each and every time I watch it - to make the most out of not only my life, but of every situation. Educating students is a profession that will forever have my respect. It is the most difficult job in the world, and also the most rewarding. Jim is right; time is precious. Too precious, perhaps. I do not want my students to ever, ever, ever, ever give up.
I can only hope that when I return to the classroom environment I am impacting, influential, and successful enough to inspire my students to want more, do more, and achieve more. Every single day I step foot into that classroom, I want to command the respect and attention of my students. I want them to learn, grow, and mature. I want them to be happy, healthy, and imaginative. I want them to leave me better than when they found me.
Every single day.